Until now, the cheaper Windows 10 S machines could only run the ‘Mobile’ or UWP apps not the full-featured Office desktop programs. Now Word 2016, Excel 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Outlook 2016, Access 2016 and Publisher 2016 are all available via the Microsoft Store without the ‘Preview’ label.

From today, any Windows 10 machine can install Microsoft Office desktop via the Microsoft Store. But you don’t have to. Most Office users don’t need to bother and can continue to use Office desktop installed directly (ie outside the Store app). See Office in the Windows Store – a closer look.

Only Windows 10 S users who want ‘full’ Microsoft Office have to use the Microsoft Store option.

How to get it

You’ll need an Office 365 plan; Home, Personal or qualifying Office 365 business plan. Your Microsoft account should be linked to the Office 365 plan and used on the computer to login.

Microsoft doesn’t make it easy or obvious to get the Office desktop apps. Here’s how it works.

Open up the Microsoft Store (rebranded from ‘Windows Store’) and search for the app you want using these words.

Word 2016

Excel 2016

PowerPoint 2016

Outlook 2016

Access 2016

Publisher 2016

There’s no single ‘Microsoft Office’ or ‘Office 365’ download, you have to select and install individual apps. The Microsoft Store’s search is a little strange and the results not always clear. If you use the above phrases (program plus ‘2016’) you should get to the right program.

Firstly, you’ll see a sales pitch for Office 365. Never mind that you already have Office 365 and the Store should know that from your MS account details <grrrrrr>.

Scroll past the pointless billboard to see the search results. Looking for ‘Word 2016’ returned these options:

We’re still concerned that there’s other differences or bugs that Microsoft hasn’t disclosed. Despite outward appearances. Office in the Microsoft Store is a quite different way to run Office. It would be surprising if there were NOT differences from traditional Office. Alas, it’s also NOT surprising that Microsoft is keeping those differences to themselves.